Capstone and Research
What is a Capstone?
A capstone is a faculty-mentored project where you apply what you've learned to something you're curious about. It is a self-directed project—research, creative, or applied—that you will complete your senior year, guided by a faculty mentor and committee. Think of it as the culmination of everything you've learned in your time at LSU and the Ogden Honors College.
A high-quality Honors Capstone that has been submitted and successfully defended is required for students to graduate with College Honors.
You won't be doing all of this work outside of your Honors classes. The capstone sequence is a cornerstone of the Ogden Honors College curriculum, giving you the chance to design and execute original, in-depth research in their field of choice. Guided by a dedicated faculty mentor of your choosing, you will take 6 credit hours throughout your senior year that will help you learn how to ask complex, meaningful questions, critically engage with existing scholarship, and ultimately make your own contribution to your discipline. Along the way, you will further refine your research, writing, and presentation skills while gaining the confidence to share your work with academic and professional audiences.
This experience not only prepares you for the rigor of graduate study and competitive careers, but also equips you to be a thoughtful, informed leader who can analyze problems, propose solutions, and drive meaningful change.
Honors Scholarly Repository
Browse and download completed capstone projects from LSU honors students, organized by year.
Capstone Guide
Everything you need to plan, format, and submit your capstone, including a sample timeline.
Formats for your Honors Capstone
May apply to all disciplines. The scholarly paper is based on original research and includes a consideration of secondary sources. The student will formulate an original question concerning his/her discipline and will investigate and analyze this question through a consideration of original and secondary sources. The resulting analysis should make a creative contribution to the relevant literature.
Applies to disciplines in which students conduct research that produces original data, including the physical, biological, or social sciences. The research paper is based on data from experiments, surveys, or scholarly research and includes treatment of relevant literature. It may include laboratory or field work.
Applies to disciplines in which the student is trained to work in business and may include disciplines outside the College of Business with the permission of the major department. The student conceptualizes a business and conducts relevant research to formulate a plan for marketing, finance, and implementation.
This format may be used by students engaged in full-time experiential requirements in the major, such as those required by the College of Education. The capstone should place the experience in the context of discipline specific literature.
This format applies primarily to students in the arts. It includes a formal compilation of the student’s artistic work as well as a written explanation of the work and relevant literature.
Students primarily in music and the dramatic arts may base their capstone on a presentation of creative artistry. This format will also include a written explanation of the work and relevant literature.
Students in engineering will work in this format. The design project includes an analysis of a physical problem, the formulation of a design solution, and the production of the design. The capstone includes a written explanation of the work and the relevant literature.
Capstone & Research Resources
Whether you’re pursuing a capstone project, exploring a personal passion, or building experiences to strengthen your resume, you’ll find robust support for undergraduate research every step of the way. From funding opportunities and research grants to workshops, library resources, and one-on-one faculty mentorship, we provide the tools and guidance you need to bring your ideas to life. No matter your major or level of experience, you’ll have access to a network that helps you ask bold questions, develop meaningful projects, and showcase your work to academic, professional, and community audiences.